Bulk Foods – Save Money AND the Planet!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to eat fresh, organic food – all the time?
It’s not always possible – sometimes organic food is simply not available, or it may be too expensive.
But that’s about to change!
National Bulk Foods Week is 11-17 October 2015, and during that time, participating stores will offer specials and discounts on bulk foods.
And that’s really good news, because buying food in bulk not only saves you money, but it’s also great for the planet too!
But even when it’s NOT Bulk Foods Week, you should always consider buying from the bulk food aisles – it’s really very green and eco friendly.
Here’s why.
Bulk Foods Save You Money
One of the really great things about buying food in bulk is that you pay for the product and nothing more.
You don’t pay for extra fancy packaging and its production and distribution.
In fact, you can save an average of 89 percent over packaged goods – isn’t that amazing?
That makes organic foods more affordable. And often, you’ll find a wider variety of organic options too!
Bulk Foods Are Quality Foods
The quality of bulk foods is the same and sometimes greater than that of their packaged counterparts – in fact many bulk and packaged products (say granola or rice, for example) come from the same source!
With packaged products you pay a premium for the brand name, advertising, special packaging, etc.
But bulk foods don’t rely on a brand or packaging to sell. Instead, they rely on their quality, price, taste and overall value.
If you’re concerned about freshness, remember that bulk foods mostly come in gravity-fed dispensing systems that automatically rotate product to ensure fresh food is constantly available.
What you see is what you get.
And that’s another point – how often have you tried to look inside a packaged product to see what’s inside, and your view is blocked by the packet, or a brand logo? That doesn’t happen with bulk foods.
Bulk Foods Reduce Resource Use
Bulk foods don’t use consumer packaging, so you’re saving that paper, cardboard and plastic from being produced.
The manufacture of paper and cardboard pulls trees from our forests, dumps polluted water into our streams and uses energy resulting in CO2 being pumped into our air, contributing to climate change. Manufacturing plastic packaging means using polluting fossil fuels.
Of course, bulk goods still use bags and packages – but they’re the right size for the amount you want to buy, and they’re generally made from recycled materials.
Transporting bulk foods to shops and stores is more efficient than transporting packaged goods, because bulk foods can be packed more densely on a truck. Bulk goods require less overall transportation to deliver to consumers (you and me), and that saves precious resources.
Bulk foods also prevent a significant amount of packaging from entering landfills.
Bulk Foods Reduce Waste
This was something that confused me when bulk aisles first appeared. The very name “Bulk Foods” meant (I thought) that I had to buy bulk; lots of food. And I don’t have a big family so I only needed small quantities.
But of course, that’s the whole point. The food is shipped in bulk (hence the name), but you can buy it in any quantity you want -“a pinch or a pound” !
You benefit by having a wide choice of natural and organic products that can be purchased in the exact quantity you want (see the video below).
If you need a large quantity of nuts for a holiday party or just a pinch of curry powder for a new recipe, bulk foods provide both options.
And because you buy exactly what you want, there’s no waste! You’re not forced to purchase a large amount of unneeded product that goes to waste – you decide what you want, a brand manufacturer shouldn’t decide for you!
Bulk items are also less likely to be thrown away than packaged items, which results in less wasted food.
Bulk Foods Are Seriously Green!
As you can see, there are so many benefits to buying bulk foods – and they benefit us and the planet too!
You’ll reduce your carbon footprint by buying without packaging, reduce the amount of garbage going into landfills, streamline the transportation needed to deliver goods to market, and help reduce carbon emissions.
Great Ideas and Tips for Bulk Foods
You can make a big difference in your family’s food budget, and a big difference in the impact you make on the environment, by simply buying bulk foods whenever possible.
Here are my favourite ways to use and have fun with bulk foods.
- Invite friends, family and neighbours over for a potluck and ask that they only bring snacks purchased in – or dishes made from foods purchased in – the bulk foods aisle. (The video below shows how to prepare an entire meal made with ingredients from the bulk foods aisle).
Experiment with new foods and expand your palate – try quinoa with black beans or couscous with seasonal vegetables. Nature’s superfood, chia seed, can be found in bulk, so sprinkle it on top of your nutritious meal. The bulk section is a great place to be creative and experiment.- Make home-made nutritious snacks – granolas or trail mixes are healthy snacks that can be made ahead using bulk ingredients that require no cooking. They also travel well and are a perfect snack to pack in a child’s lunch box or office desk drawer.
Green your pantry by investing in glass storage containers, stainless steel jars or reusing mason jars to store bulk foods. Your pantry will look great and feel well-organised – and see my Pinterest board for great organizing tips and inspiration.- Do remember that NOT ALL the items in the bulk food aisles are organic. Always check the labels and make sure you’re buying the best, most healthy food for you and your family.
What If My Local Store Doesn’t Have a Bulk Foods Aisle?
Bulk foods used to be available only in specialist stores. But now, most major grocery chains have them.
If you don’t find bulk aisles at your neighborhood grocery store or supermarket, tell them:
- you want the savings and selection that come from bulk food
- you want to see your food before you buy it, and not just trust some fancy picture on a box
- you want to reduce your impact on the environment.
Where Can I Find Participating Stores?
Here’s the list of stores across the US which are participating in Bulk Foods Week.
Two resources are below: a short video showing an interesting comparison, and a cool infographic …..enjoy!
Please spread the word about the benefits of bulk foods – sharing buttons below and right – and tell me in the comments below how you use bulk foods. Thank you!
